Door latch



Nov. 22, 1949 R. T. ANDERSON 2,488,794

noon LATCH y Filed Dec. '23, 1944 3 sheets-sheet 1 55 C) 'gmmm Nov. 22, 1949 R. T. ANDERSON DOOR LATCH 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 23, 1.944

Nov. 22, 1949 R. T. ANDERSON DOOR LATCH E5 SheetS-Sheeil 3 Filed Dec. 25, 1944 Patented Nov. 22, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DOOR LATCH Richard T. Anderson, Stacy, Minn.

Application December 23, 1944, Serial No. 569,474

17 Claims. l

My invention relates to an improvement in door latch wherein it is ydesired to provide a latch which is simple to operate and inexpensive to manufacture.

In my previous Patent No. 2,230,476, issued February 4, 1941, for Door latch, I disclosed a latch of the same general type having a. substantially horse shoe shaped handle and a U-shaped bracket supporting the same. The present aplplication has been developed as an improvement of this patent and is designed to overcome some of the manufacturing difculties which have been encountered in the manufacture of the previous type of latch.

It has previously fbeen proposed to embody in a U-shaped handle a separately pivotallatch element. This Vcombination as previously designed involved certain disadvantages. A spring is required to hold the operating handle in one eX- treme position. VIf a separately pivotal latch were provided it was either-necessary to employ an additional spring to hold the latch extended :or to use -a single spring for applying spring pressure both to the handle and to the latch. If the latter construction was. employed the retraction of the pivotal latch acting to compress the spring removed spring tension against the handle. Thus ,as the door swung into closed position retraction of the pivoting latch usually tended t swing the handle in unison `with the latch, thus losing most o1 the henet of the separately pivotal latch.

It is Van object of the :present invention to Aprovide a pivoted handle incorporating a separately pivoted latch :and to provider ameans of applying tension against both of these elements through the use of a separate spring. This spring is so positioned as to continuously apply pressure against both the individually pivoted latch and the handle. As a result the latch Imay loe 'retracted lwhile spring pressure is still applied against the handle to hold the handle.A in its normal' extreme position.

A further feature of the present invention lies in the provision of an improved lock -for holding the latch inoperative. This lock will permit retraction of the individually pivoted l'atch, but will prevent operation thereof by the handle. As a result the lock may be applied While the ldoor is stilll open and the door may then be closed Without injury to any of the parts.

An additional feature of the present invention lies in the simplicity of the assembly of my door latch. The various Aparts of the latch are so prepared that they may be easily assembled and.v held in place by use of a single rivet Aor pivot bolt. As

a result my latch is extremely inexpensive to manufacture and assemble.

A further feature of the present invention lies in the keeper construction used in combination with my latch. This keeper is formed of a single lpiece of material stamped and formed to produce a keeper which is extremely strong and yet which is inexpensive to manufacture and attractive in appearance.

These :and other objects and novel features 'of my invention will be more lclearly and fully set forth in the lfollowing specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of my specication:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my latch showing the construction thereof.

Figure 2 is a plan view of my latch in engaged position, the view showing in dotted outline the relative position of a door land portion of a door frame.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the latch in locked position.

Figure 4 is a plan view similar to Figures 2 and 3, but showing :the .lock in open .position and the handle pivoted to Idisengage the latch.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing the handle in normal position, but showing the latch in retracted position.

Figure 6 is a sectional View. through the lock handle showing the Iconstruction thereof.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of Ia 'pressure yoke held by spring tension against the handle and latch element.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a bracket -forming a part of the `latch mechanism.

Figure 9 is an end view or the channel bracket supporting the pivoted handle of my latch.

Figure l0 is a perspective view of the keeper in normal position.

Figure 11 is a diagrammatic view showing the blank from which the ,keeper of Figure 9 is formed.

The latch A includes a handle of U-shape or horseshoe shape asbest illustrated in the draw'- ings, pivotally supported in a channel bracket Il. The channel bracket Il is ydesigned te overlie portions of opposed surfaces of a door adj-acent a marginal edge thereof, as well as aportion of the edge itself. Thus the latch may he applied lby cutting a notch in the marginal edge of the door extending between the opposed door surfaces and tting the latch mechanism into this notch so that :the channel bracket H conceals the notched Iportion ofthe door.

In order to pivotally support the' handle lil, l'

provide a pair of opposed ears I2 which are bent inwardly toward the interior of the bracket II. The ears I2 are formed of material ordinarily comprising a part; of the channe1 flange I3 so that by bending the ears inwardly I provi-de an aperture between the ears through which the handle I may extend. An elongated aperture I4 is provided in the opposed bracket flange I5, which overlies the surface of the door opposite that engaged by the flange I3. The base I6 of the channel bracket I I overlies the door edge.

To reinforce the ears I2 and the pivotal support between the channel bracket I I and the handle III, I provide a U-shaped bracket II best illustrated in Figure 8 of the drawings. The bracket I I is provided with a pair of parallel plates I9 and 29 which are connected by a narrower strip 2|. The strip 2| is substantially flush with the edges 22 and 23 of the plate |9 and 20, leaving a notch or aperture 24 between the band 2| and the edges 25 and 26 of the plates` From I9 and 2l] opposite the edges 22 and 23. the edges 25 and 26 vertically aligned ears 2`| and 29 which are designed to extend through the aperture 30 formed by the inturning of the ears and accordingly the present construction is believed advantageous.

Within the center portion of the handle I9 I provide a latch element 3|. This element is pivoted at 32 upon a rivet or pivot bolt 33 which extends through the ears I2, through the plates I9 and 29, and through the latch element 3|. The latch element is provided with a substantially triangular projecting portion 34 which extends through a slot 35 in the handle I0. A shoulder 36 as well as the extremity 3! of the latch element 3| engage the inner surface of the tubular wall forming the latch element 3| so as to limit projection of this element from the handle. A projection 39 is also provided on the latch element 3| extending into an aperture 4Q on the inner side of the handle I9. This projection 39 extends substantially ush with the outer surface of the handle when the latch element is in projecting position and projects through the aperture 4D when the latch is retracted.

A yoke 4I, best illustrated in Figure 7 of the drawings, overlies a portion of the inner surface of the handle I9 between the walls I3 and I5 of the channel bracket I I. This yoke 4| is curved to fit the contour of the portion of the handle I0, which it embraces. A plate 42 integral with the trough-shaped body 4I lies substantially at against the wall I5 of the bracket II in normal position.

A locking slide 43 extends through a suitable slot 44 in the plate I5 and is provided with an end in engagement with the bracket I'I. The outer end 45 of the slide 43 is curved as illustrated so that it may be easily engaged by the fingers and moved longitudinally. A shoulder 46 is provided in the slide 43 so as to limit slidable movement of the slide 43 in one direction. When the shoulder 46 is in engagement with 4 the inner surface of the channel wall I5, the outward movement of the slide 43 is prevented.

A ange 41 is provided on the inner end of the slide 43, this flange being of dimensions to slide in the notch 24. The body of the slide 43 adjacent the end 47 engages inwardly of the strip 2| of the bracket I'I and the flange 41 is permitted to move the width of the notch '24 between the strip 2| and the edges 25 and 26 of the plates I9 and 29. In other words, the slide 43 may be moved into the locking position shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, wherein the flange 4`I is in engagement with the bracket plate I3. In this position the straight portion 49 of the slide 43 adjacent the curved end 45 will be moved in the path of movement of the plate 42 of the yoke 4I, thus locking the handle II) from pivotal movement.

A spring 50 is interposed between the yoke 4I and the slide 43. This spring acts to hold the locking slide 43 in proper position and also applies spring tension both to the latch element 3| and the handle I0. This spring 50 tends to hold the locking slide 43 in whatever position it is manually placed in. As shown in Figure 2 of the drawings the spring would exert a slight longitudinal pressure upon the slide 43, tending to hold the shoulder 46 against the plate I5 when the slide is in unlocked position. When the locking slide 43 is put in its other extreme position, as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings the spring 50 then exerts a slight longitudinal force tending to push the flange 4'| against the ange I3. As a result the spring has an important function in the operation of the locking slide.

The spring 50 also has an unusual function in applying pressure both to the handle and to the latch element 3|. As will be noted from Figure 5 of the drawings the retraction of the latch element 3| engages the yoke 4I near the end thereof opposite the plate 42. On the other hand pivotal movement of the handle Ill, as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, causes engagement of the yoke 4I at the end thereof bearing the plate 42. The spring 50 contacts an intermediate point of the yoke 4| so that the yoke may pivot in one direction when the latch element alone `is retracted and may pivot in the opposite direction when the handle and latch element are pivoted in unison.

In Figure 4 of the drawings it will be noted that the yoke 4I has pivoted in unison with the handle I9, the plate 42 clearing the straight portion 49 of the locking slide adjacent the shoulder 46. As will be noted from Figure 3 of the drawings this pivotal movement of the handle I0 is blocked by the slide 43 when the slide is in its locking position shown in this iigure.

When the latch element 3| is pivoted inwardly by itself as it would in the event the door was closed without engaging the handle, the projection 39 of the latch element 3| engages against the inner surface of the yoke 4I at a point farther from the end of the yoke supporting the plate 42 than the distance between the spring 5U and the plate end of the yoke. As a result the yoke 4| fulcrums about the free edge 5I of the plate 42, as illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings. The spring 59, however, still exerts tension against the handle I9, tending to hold the handle in normal position.

In other words, the yoke 4I may pivot about either end thereof as a fulcrum and spring pressure is applied between the points of engagement of the yoke with the latch element and with afi-'same the handle. Thus should either of theselelements' tend to pivot separatelyV spring pressure isistil'l applied against the other. 1

In order to permit the spring 50 to Iassu-me a considerable angle relative to the slide.. litv and the yoke 4l, I provide a raised bear'in'gifl on both the yoke ilV and the slide 43 against which the ends of the spring .may engage. The. spring is heldr in'place by a central protuberance' 53` which extends into the interior of the yspring to hold the same in its proper position.

The keeper B is of the 'constructionshown'in Figures .10 and 11 of the drawings. The :keeper is provided with a plate 54 having spaced` aperV tures 55therein. A plate extends atanacnte angle to the plate 54 and triangularportionssi on the plate 56 are bent at right anglesgto fthe plate 5t and engage against the platefed.- Asa result a wedge-shaped aperture is provided with: in the. keeper into which thetriangul'ar projece tion 33 of the latch element 3| may extend.' Screws 59 extend through the apertures 55.`to hold the plate 5d against the door lambs-Bil'. and an additional screw 6l may extend thronghan aperture 62 in the plate .56. if it is desired tofbetter secure the keeper.

The operation of my latch as described .in connection with the construction thereof- 'isbeiieifed obvious. The latch is applied by cutting .a notch in the edge of the door and inserting the. latch out of engagement. with the keeper. Upon pivotal movement of the handle IQ, the. yoke- 62| :andits attached plate 42 swing with the handle. {Pivotal movement of the handle tends to vcompress the spring 5t and therefore this springV tends toreturn the handle and its latch to normalI position illustrated in Figure v2. When it is 'desired to prevent pivotal movement of the handle,f .the locking slide d3 may be movediinto Ythe position shown in Figure 3 of the drawings,r thereby pre"v venting the yoke 4I from swin'ginglandlocking the handle from pivotal movement.v Asi shown in Figure 5 of the drawings, the latch-element may pivot independently of the handle, this movement swinging the yoke ilv about the fend of the yoke supporting the plate 42, thus -compressing the spring 50. The spring then exerts its force against both the handle I!) and the latch element 3 I, holding the handle in normal position while allowing the latch element to retract.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my door latch, and while I have en deavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire .to haveA it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scopev of the following claims without departing from f the spiritof my invention. i 1

I claim:

1. A door latch comprising a frame, a curved handle pivotally secured in said frame, an independently pivotal latch element, a spring urged yoke engageable against said handle and pivotal relative thereto, and means on said latch element engageable with said yoke, said yoke continuously exerting spring pressure both against said latch element-.and said handleregardlessof the. relative postions thereof.

2. A door latch comprising a frame, .a curved handle pivoted to said frame, an independently pivoted latch element, a yoke engaging said handle and said latch element and pivotal rela'.A tivethereto, and spring .means engaging said yoke .to-continuously urge thev same against said latch element and said handle regardless .or the relative positions thereof.

3. Ardoor latch comprising a frame, .a curved handle pivoted to said frame, a yoke engaging against said handle at a point spaced from the point'oi pivot, an independently pivotal latch element, said latch element engaging said yoke ata point nearer thev point of pivot of said handle from the part thereof 'engaged byl said yoke, and` spring means engaging. said yoke. between the poi-nt'of pivot with saidy latch element and the point of -engagement with saidhandle to' continuously exert spring pressurefagainstthe han-v dle and latch element. v

4. .A door latch comprisinga frame, .a :door handle pivotally secured to said frame, a latch` element independently pivoted coaxial with the handle pivot, a yoke` engaging .said handle and pivotal relative thereto, means on said .latch element engaging said yoke, and spring means urging said yoke against said handle. and .latch element, said spring means engaging. saidy yoke at a point spaced from said pivot a distance greater than the distancebetween said pivot and said means on said latch element tocontinuously exert-spring pressure against the handle. and latchy element.

5. A door latch comprising. a trame, a curved handle pivotally supported by said. frame, an individually pivoted latch element, .a yoke en-v` gaging against said handle, means supporting said yoke pivotal with said handleand pivotal with.Y respect thereto, means on said'A latch element engageable with said yoke to. pivot the lsame independently of said handle, .and spring means engageable vwith said yoke to continuouslyurge the-same against said handle and said latchv element regardless of the relative positions thereof. 6. A door latch comprisingy a frame, a curved handlepivotally supported by said frame, a latch element pivotally secured -coaxial with said phandle,. a pressure plate engaging said handle to resist .pivotal movement thereof, spring means urging said pressure plate against said. handle, means on said .latch element engagea-ble with said pressure plate, pivotal movement .ofc said latch element relative to said handle moving said pressure plate said spring means continuously exerting pressure against bothsaid latchxele.. ment andv said handle. Y

7. A door latch-comprising -a frame, a handle pivotally supported by said. frame, a pressure plate engaging said handle to resistpivotal move,- ment thereof in oneV direction, arpivotally4 supe ported latch element pivotal relative to saidhane dle, means on said latch element engageable with said pressure plate, pivotal movement of said latch element relative to said handleacting. to pivot said pressure plate relativev to said;handlei and spring means constantly urging said pressure plate simultaneously against both said handle and said latch element.

8. In a door latch,V a frame including a pair of substantially parallel sides, a curved handle pivoted to said frame, a locking slide supported between the sides of said frame and movable laterally, cooperable locking means on said handle engageable with said sude in one position thereof to hold said handle from pivoting, said locking means pivoting past said slide in another position thereof.

9. In a door latch, a frame including a pair of substantially parallel sides, a curved handle pivoted to said frame, a slide movable laterally of said frame, said slide projecting beyond one of said sides of said frame, spring means interposed between said slide and said handle to'urge said handle in one extreme position, shoulder means on said slide, and means on said handle engageable with said shoulder means in one position of said slide to hold said handle from pivotal movement.

10. In a door latch, a frame including a pair of substantially parallel sides, a handle pivotally secured to said frame, a slide supported by said frame extending transversely of said frame and movable between two extreme positions, cooperable means on said handle and said slide engageable in one extreme position of the slide to lock the handle from pivoting, spring means interposed between said slide and said handle to resist movement of said handle in one direction, said spring means holding said slide in either extreme position.

11. A door latch comprising a frame, a handle pivotally secured to said frame, an independently pivotal latch element supported by said handle, a slide supported by said frame extending transversely of the frame and movable between two extreme positions, cooperable means on said handle and said slide engageable in one extreme position of the slide to lock the handle from pivoting, spring means interposed between said slide and said handle, said spring means exerting pressure against said handle and said independently operable latch element, and holding said slide in either extreme position.

12. A door latch comprising a frame, a handle pivotally secured to said frame, a pivotally supported latch element, a slide transversely supported by said frame and movable between two extreme positions, cooperable means on said handle and said slide engageable in one extreme position of the slide to lock the handle from pivoting, a spring interposed between said slide and said handle, and spring urged means interposed between said spring, said handle and said latch element to exert spring pressure against both said latch element and said handle.

13. In a latch, a channel bracket, a curved handle extending through opposed sides thereof and pivoted thereto, a slide movably mounted substantially parallel to the base of said channel bracket and movable between two extreme positions, spring means interposed between said handle and said slide, means on said handle engageable with said slide in one extreme position thereof to limit pivotal movement of said handle, said spring resisting pivotal movement of said handle and acting to hold said slide in either extreme position.

-14. A door latch comprising a channel bracket, a curved handle extending through opposed sides of said bracket and pivotally secured thereto, an

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independentlypivotal latch velement supported by said handle, a slide extending between opposed sides of said bracket substantially parallel to the base thereof, cooperable means on said handle and said slide engageable in one extreme position of the slide to lock the handle from pivoting, a spring interposed between said handle and said slide, and means interposed between said spring and said handle and said latchv element to distribute spring pressure between said latch element and said handle.

15. A door latch comprising a channel bracket, a handle extending through opposed sides of said bracket and pivotally secured thereto. an independent pivotal latch element supported by said handle, spring means supported by said bracket and engageable with said handle and said latch element, said spring means constantly resisting pivotal movement of said handle simultaneously resisting independent pivotal movement of said latch element.

16. In a door latch, a plate designed to overlie a surface of a door, said plate having an aperture therethrough, a pair of ears extending in substantially parallel relationship at substantially right angles to said plate on opposite sides of said aperture, a handle means extending through said aperture, a pivot extending through said ears and through said handle to pivotally connect said handle to said plate, a spring bracket com prising a pair of arms and a connecting base, said pivot extending through said arms and forming a support for said bracket, spring means, and means on said base of said spring bracket supporting one end of said'spring, the other end thereof exerting a biasing force against said han dle to normally urge said handle in one direction.

17. A door latch comprising a plate designed to overlie a surface of a door, an aperture in said plate, a pair of ears extending inwardly from said plate in substantially parallel relationship on opposite sides of said aperture, a handle member extending through said aperture, pivot means extending through said ears and through said handle to pivotally support said handle, a spring bracket comprising a base and a pair of arms through which said pivot extends, a relatively pivotal latch member pivotally supported by said pivot, spring means interposed between the base of said bracket, said relatively pivotal latch member and said handle, and means on the base of said spring bracket supporting one end of said spring means, the other end of said spring acting to urge both said relatively pivotal latch member and said handle in one rotative direction.

RICHARD T. ANDERSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,272,241 Fendring Feb. 10, 1942 2,311,686 Olson Feb. 23, 1943 2,317,300 Quinn Apr. 20, 1943 2,352,465 Anderson et al. June 27, 1944 

